Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Payments)

Affirm
GB
Remote

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior backend engineers comfortable with high-throughput payment systems and cross-regional collaboration between Europe and the US.

Best fit for

  • Experienced in scaling distributed systems with AWS and Kubernetes.
    — “developing highly available distributed systems using technologies like AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes
  • Proven ability to lead teams through ambiguity to deliver quarterly goals.
    — “leading engineers on your team through ambiguity to solve open-ended problems
  • Skilled in Python or Kotlin for backend systems at scale.
    — “designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin

Things to consider

  • Participation in on-call rotations to support system availability.
    — “supporting “keep the lights on” & on-call efforts
  • Collaboration with teams across multiple time zones.
    — “working alongside multiple partner teams across Europe and the US

How to stand out

  • Demonstrate experience in designing extensible systems for high-growth businesses.
    — “defining a technical plan for the delivery of a significant feature or system component with an elegant, simple and extensible design
  • Highlight contributions to improving code review and design standards.
    — “foster a culture of quality and ownership on your team by setting or improving code review and design standards
  • Showcase proactive problem-solving in past projects.
    — “proactively identify project, process, technology or business issues, advocate for them, and lead in solving them
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • owning and delivering quarterly goals
  • leading engineers through ambiguity
  • supporting operations and availability
Typical background
4+ years backend developmenthigh availability systemsAWS

Skills & requirements

Required

Backend DevelopmentDistributed SystemsAWSKubernetes

Preferred

PythonKotlinHigh Availability Systems

Stack & domain

Backend SystemsPythonKotlinAWSMySQLKubernetesDistributed SystemsHigh AvailabilityHigh ThroughputInternational ExpansionFinancial MetricsFeature DevelopmentCode ReviewDesign StandardsOn-call EffortsMetrics CreationMonitoringTechnical ConstraintsRisk And Trade-offsProduct Development LifecycleCollaborationArticulationDecision MakingProject ManagementProcess ImprovementTechnology ImprovementBusiness IssuesAdvocacyProblem SolvingTeam LeadershipTalent DevelopmentFeedbackGuidanceWritingTech TalksCommunicationLeadershipTeamworkOwnershipProactivePaymentsBackend Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Affirm via Greenhouse

Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest.

About the Engineering team 

The Engineering team builds systems that power Affirm’s mission. We take pride in our craft, building reliable, performant, and scalable solutions that touch every part of the business. Whether we’re enabling new ways to pay, ensuring our platforms can scale to the most demanding levels in the industry, or developing seamless servicing experiences, our focus is on solving complex problems through exceptional engineering.

About the team

As part of the Consumer Payments team at Affirm, you'll be working on Affirm's Payment Processing Network. These systems currently process billions of dollars in payments each year and are vital components in Affirm's platform. We are looking for highly motivated software engineers who are passionate about building high throughout, high availability systems that can grow alongside a high growth business. You will be working alongside multiple partner teams across Europe and the US to support feature development, international expansion as well as moving the dial on key financial metrics for the business.

What you’ll do

You will be responsible for owning and delivering quarterly goals for your team, leading engineers on your team through ambiguity to solve open-ended problems, and ensuring that everyone is supported throughout delivery.

You will support your peers and stakeholders in the product development lifecycle by collaborating with product management, design & analytics by participating in ideation, articulating technical constraints, and partnering on decisions that properly consider risks and trade-offs.

You will proactively identify project, process, technology or business issues, advocate for them, and lead in solving them.

You will support the operations and availability of your team’s artifacts by creating and monitoring metrics, escalating when needed, and supporting “keep the lights on” & on-call efforts.

You will foster a culture of quality and ownership on your team by setting or improving code review and design standards for your team, and advocating for them beyond your team through your writing and tech talks.

You will help develop talent on your team by providing feedback and guidance, and leading by example.

What we look for

You have 4+ years of experience designing, developing and launching backend systems at scale using languages like Python or Kotlin.

You have a track record of developing highly available distributed systems using technologies like AWS, MySQL and Kubernetes.

You have experience defining a technical plan for the delivery of a significant feature or system component with an elegant, simple and extensible design. You write high quality code that is easily understood and used by others.

You are proficient at making significant changes in a large code base, and have developed a suite of tools and practices that enable you and your team to do so safely.

· Your experience demonstrates that you take ownership of your growth, proactively seeking feedback from your team, your manager, and your stakeholders.

You have strong verbal and written communication skills that support effective collaboration with our global engineering team.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay Grade - N

Equity Grade - 5

Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.

Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidised medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)

Base pay range per year: £117,000 - £157,000

Location: UK Remote

 #LI-Remote

 

Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company! The majority of our roles are remote and you can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Affirmers in proximal roles have the flexibility to work remotely, but will occasionally be required to work out of their assigned Affirm office. A limited number of roles remain office-based due to the nature of their job responsibilities.

We’re extremely proud to offer competitive benefits that are anchored to our core value of people come first. Some key highlights of our benefits package include: 

Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents 

Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses

Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge

ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount

We believe It’s On Us to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process.

[For U.S. positions that could be performed in Los Angeles or San Francisco] Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Affirm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read Affirm's Global Candidate Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.

Source: Affirm careers (Greenhouse)

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